Tantallon Castle

Near North Berwick, East Lothian
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Climb to the battlements of the last of the grand medieval castles and marvel at its scale. Set high on a cliff edge and featuring a massive red sandstone curtain wall, Tantallon Castle was home to the Red Douglas dynasty.

View the artefacts and imagine the clashes with the Crown that left their mark on this family seat. The mighty stronghold was finally abandoned after more than 300 years, when it was besieged for a third time – by Oliver Cromwell’s army.

Tantallon Castle is a popular filming location and appears in the critically acclaimed film Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson and the Bollywood cult classic, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, starring Shah Rukh Khan.

Visitors can enjoy amazing views over the North Sea to the Bass Rock and its large seabird colonies and marvel at the mighty curtain wall. This is considered to be the best example of castle architecture from the 1300s anywhere in Scotland. The replica gun at the bottom of the east tower is an exact copy of the ones used to defend against James IV and James V.

Rare animals, birds and plants can be spotted among the local wildlife, plus you can find out what we’ve learned from recent archaeological digs and take our fun fact-finding quiz while exploring the castle.

Three children cross a bridge from a grassy area towards a castle entrance
A close but wide angle view of Tantallon Castle making the stronghold look particularly big
A falcon perched on a weathered stone wall
Aerial view looking out over Tantallon Castle towards the sea

A stunning backdrop

Many Historic Scotland sites, including Tantallon, can be used as a backdrop to your wedding photographs, even if your ceremony is held elsewhere.
Find out more about wedding photography

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Ideal for frequent visitors and heritage supporters

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